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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) and Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) applaud the Vermont Legislature for making historic investments in climate action, clean water, affordable housing, broadband, and other critical programs that will benefit Vermont’s people, environment, and communities. Governor Scott said today that he expects to sign the budget bill once it reaches his desk, barring any last minute changes. The Legislature could adjourn as early as today.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Regular weekly unemployment claims fell dramatically to pre-pandemic levels the last two weeks as the Vermont Department of Labor was able to eliminate the vast bulk of fraudulent claims by requiring new claimants to call the department directly. As the VDOL discovered, and other states have realized, criminal operations were barraging online systems with false claims. The work search system technical issue at VDOL that surfaced on May 16 is now resolved. The Vermont work search requirement for unemployment insurance filers was reinstated on May 9.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this week, the Vermont Department of Labor identified issues with entering work search information when filing weekly claims. This resulted in some claimants not being able to file. All work search related issues with the weekly claim have been resolved as of today. If you have not been able to file your weekly claim, you can now log back in and do so. The Vermont work search requirement for unemployment insurance filers was reinstated on May 9.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for April was 2.9 percent. This reflects no change from the prior month’s revised estimate. The comparable United States rate in April was 6.1 percent, which was an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised March estimate. Vermont has the fifth lowest rate in the nation, one-tenth behind Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah. Last month Vermont was tied for lowest.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced Thursday evening that along with signing several other bills into law, that he was vetoing a bill entitled "An act relating to confidential information concerning the initial arrest and charge of a juvenile." This bill basically raises the age of who can be considered a juvenile. While this issue has been ongoing for some time, it has been highlighted recently with fatal auto crashes involving teenagers under 18 whose names were not released publicly regardless of whether there could have been a crime also committed.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Health is pleased to announce that the National Child Passenger Safety Board (NCPSB) recently recognized Vermont Child Passenger Safety Coordinator Sidney Bradley as the 2021 U.S. Child Passenger Safety Instructor of Year. Bradley, a resident of Franklin County, is part of the Vermont Child Passenger Safety program (CPS). The CPS works with a statewide network of community volunteers to educate families and caregivers on the proper use of car and booster seats to ensure children are safe on Vermont’s roadways.

Vermont Business Magazine Three times each year, New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) conducts its Shred Fest events to help prevent identity theft by destroying documents with sensitive personal information. All Shred Fests are free and open to the public. Document destruction services are provided by SecurShred, a local company specializing in secure information management solutions. Participants can watch on a video monitor as their documents are shredded.

Vermont Business Magazine Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC has moved its Brattleboro, Vermont office to the second floor of the historic Brooks House at 132 Main Street.

“DRM has served area businesses for nearly 30 years and we’re excited to continue that work from the heart of downtown Brattleboro,” said Director Timothy Copeland, Jr. “In 2020, Andrea Wright joined our Brattleboro office, serving clients in labor and employment matters. Elizabeth Wohl returned to DRM earlier this year to focus on health law issues. As we continue to reopen our offices, we look forward to working with them in our new space.”

The Brooks House has a personal connection to DRM. “The firm’s relocation to the Brooks House is fitting,” said Craig Miskovich, DRM Director and founding member of the Brooks House Development Group. “The space, while in an historic building, is modern and suits our growing practice.”

Vermont Business Magazine Emergency Medical Service (EMS) stations across Vermont will open their doors this weekend to host walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics. As of today (May 20), Vermont has removed the residency requirement for vaccination. That means that anyone age 12 and older who is visiting Vermont can get vaccinated. You do not have to be a Vermont resident or a part-time resident. Also, the VDH is reporting another low number of COVID-19 cases today of only 33 and no new deaths, which remain at 255.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Thursday announced sweeping legislation to address the massive health care workforce shortage facing the United States. Sanders announced the bill today while leading a hearing of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security titled “A Dire Shortage and Getting Worse: Solving the Crisis in the Health Care Workforce.”

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc, in partnership with Rudarpa, Inc officially broke ground on a Renewable Natural Gas processing facility on May 19 at its North Country Environmental Services disposal facility in Bethlehem, NH. Project partners and local officials took part in the ceremony, celebrating the official start of the project that is the first of its kind in New Hampshire and which is expected to provide significant environmental benefits as well as dozens of jobs and increased tax revenue for the local economy.